Flames, feathers and fangs: Rio Carnival parade in pictures

3 hours ago 1

ARTICLE AD BOX

Ricardo Moraes / Reuters A reveller from Beija-Flor samba school performs, wearing bright green weathers and a headdress resembling a black panther, performs at the Sambadrome during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro on 4 March, 2025

The Beija-Flor samba school has been crowned winner of Rio de Janeiro's celebrated carnival parade competition.

Thousand gathered at the city's giant Sambadrome arena to watch the top 12 samba schools battle it out for this year's title.

Beija-Flor was crowned winner on Wednesday for the 15th time, narrowly beating second-placed Grande Rio.

Its performance was an homage to its late director, Luiz Fernando Ribeiro do Carmo, better known as Laíla, who died in June 2021 with Covid-19.

While the overarching theme of Beija-Flor's parade was a tribute to its late director, it also featured floats with pyrotechnic displays and dancers dressed as devils.

Mauro Pimental / AFP A reveler of the Beija-Flor samba school performs dressed as a devil. He is is gesturing and is surrounded by jets of flame.

The performances are judged over 10 categories by a total of 40 judges.

One of the top 12 samba schools competing for the title was Paraíso do Tuiuti, whose dancers paraded in exuberant feathers.

Pilar Olivares / Reuters Revellers from Paraiso do Tuiuti samba school perform at the Sambadrome during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

Among the incredible variety of costumes and performances, Vila Isabel's ghosts clad completely in white were a counterpoint to the kaleidoscopic costumes typical of Rio's carnival.

Ricardo Moraes / Reuters Revellers dressed as ghosts from Vila Isabel samba school perform against the wider backdrop of the Sambadrome

Performers from the Grande Rio samba school, which came a close second behind Beija-Flor, kept a watchful eye on the parade.

Wagner Meier / Getty Images Three members of Grande Rio perform wearing costumes involving giant single eyes and teeth.

Mocidade delighted spectators with a giant puppet.

Getty Images A robot puppet and performers dressed in black from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel school

Many of the Mocidade's dancers wore futuristic costumes, inspired by its theme song, which this year was entitled Back To The Future - There Are No Limits Dreaming.

Tita Barros / Reuters A woman performs in a silver costume in front of a space themed display

Imperatriz came third this year with a parade which included revellers adorned with gold and white skulls.

Andre Coelho / EPA Members of the Imperatriz samba school, their faces painted in white and black paint, are surrounded by plastic skulls, some painted white, others gold

Portela samba school paid tribute to the legendary Brazilian musician Milton Nascimento. The 82-year-old singer-songwriter waved at the crowd during the parade.